What are the medical symptoms of a diffuse pontine glioma?
Some symptoms are crossed eyes, balance problems (ataxia), muscle weakness on one side of the body (hemiparesis), swallowing problems (dysphagia), speech problems (dysarthria), drowsiness, hearing loss, and personality changes. The brainstem has cranial nerves that control many of these functions. The tumours affect these nerves and cause symptoms. Most symptoms develop quickly, over a period of one to two weeks. Sometimes symptoms can develop over a longer time period but usually less than three months.
